If you would like some more information about PGP and Public/Private Keys, see Bill Standley's web page. The PGP link below
used to contain excellent information, too (and still might). Sadly
Network Associates has "improved" it.

What's it for?

How do I use it?

Once you've obtained your copy of PGP (while it's still legal to do so), install the
software, then click here
(updated Thursday, June 17, 1999 12:30 PM) to place my public key on your key chain.

If that doesn't work, scroll down to the bottom of this page and copy my public key
manually.

Some tips

Here are some things I've learned about creating your key. I ended up scrapping
(revoking) my original key and creating a new one. If you search for "Berkeley
Johnston" on the PGP server, you'll see my old and new
keys. Use them for reference.

Here's my current entry. Click to see the full image including my revoked
entries, too.

Use your full name when you create your key. Even though "Berkeley
Johnston" is a unique name, there are at least two others. However, "Berkeley
MacRae Johnston" is far more unique. Some day my son will be old enough to distrust
the government and (if he takes this advice) his key won't be confused with mine.

Don't add your email address to your main key name. Things change. Even
though I consider "berkeley@industryfigure.com" to be my permanent address, it
might not be. Although having a bogus email address won't invalidate my keys, it would be
confusing.

Add your nicknames/common names to your new key. If my key was only
listed as "Berkeley MacRae Johnston" and you searched for "Berkeley
Johnston" you would come up empty. Fortunately for you, I added "Berkeley
Johnston <berkeley@industryfigure.com>" and now you can find me! Plus you know
that I'm an IndustryFigure, so now you can be doubly sure that it's me.

Associate your common names with your email addresses. People at
Veritas know "Michael P Berger" as "Mike" so he added a "Mike
Berger <mike.berger@veritas.com>" to his key. Now if I search for "Mike
Berger" I'll find him and I'll know it's him because of his veritas.com address.

Add a photograph. An image of you can help identify you to your friends
("Is this the John Smith I'm searching for, or just another random John
Smith?").